Skirmisher/Slinger/general irregular tactics

I usually deploy skirmisher types (slingers/javelineers) in the front of my army (i am VERY aware of the teamkilling these units tend to do if they are behind your lines), to soften up the enemy before the lines meet - it seems all i can get out of these guys is the first initial volleys before the lines collide and then for the rest of the battle these guys are pretty much useless - set on skirmish, they run backwards behind my troops and keep shooting at enemies, 90% of the time with my own troops in the way and then when they fall back and DONT shoot, thats even worse because they are just doing nothing.

how do you guys order your slingers/ javelineers around so that they provide good enfilading/rear fire on the enemies instead of causing TKs and disregardable damage shooting at enemies who are directly facing them? it doesnt help that they tire themselves out just shooting, also - usually when it is time to move them around the most they are tired, or worse....


also, i LOVE the 1.0 teaser. Keep it up EB!

Once the lines have closed and my ranged units have fallen behind my own lines I take them off skirmish and just order them around the battle line using the shift key with the final order being to attack an engaged enemy unit from the rear. A few team kills is nothing compared with how quickly the enemy units rout when taking a pounding from your infantry and ranged units in the rear. Celtic slingers rock at this.

I think I've heard that friendly fire kills heal more frequently.

I do the same things, although I usually shoot more than one volley with slingers or archers, and one volley with skirmishers. If I have Peltastai in the front, I'll often let them soften up the troops by taking them off of skirmish. By the time they get through the Peltastai, they're more tired than my fresh line. Granted, I don't do this very often....usually peltasts are placed at the flanks, but it has worked for me in the past.

In my opinion, slingers are one of the most useful units in EB, especially Hellenes Sphendonetai and Gauls Iaosatae. They have AP abilities, a lot of ammo and long range. They are far better than almosts any archer unit. They are one of the cheapest units too!

During my campaigns with Makedonians and Epeirotes, my armies consisted of 5-6 phalangites, 2 thureophoroi, 2-3 cavalry and usually at least 5 slingers.

When I was defending, I tried to place my army uphill and waited the enemy. The slingers, having the high ground, inflicted very high casualties on the enemy, so that the phalangites had really easy task.

When attacking, I move the slingers, in loose formation, way before my main battle line, having cavalry in close support. Taking advantage of their long range, I order them to shoot at the enemy cavalry units, or, even better, the enemy general. The result is that they kill a lot of cavalrymen and that usually makes enemy cavalry charge at them without infantry support, allowing my own cavalry to defeat them easily! That way I get a really big advantage for the rest of the battle.
The next phase is to sent my phalanx to keep the enemy infantry in place. Since my slingers still have a lot of ammo left, I order them to move to the sides of the enemy battle line and shoot at the backs of the enemy (always having my cavalry close by). This is very deadly for the enemy!!! Even if some enemy infantry units try to chase the slingers, they are usually unable to catch them. They just make their main battle line weaker!!!
In the last phase, when the slingers are out of ammo, I sent the cavalry to the backs of the enemy and root them.

Only when the enemy has more or better cavalry than me, this plan fails (and fails badly!!!).

I have won too many battles using the above tactic, usually heroic ones, since RTW engine considers slingers to be very weak units.


I don't use other skirmisher units because the have low ammo and they quickly became useless.

Sorry for the long post.

As Carthage I use Balearic light inf. and peltastai as flankers when they run out of javelins. The peltastai are surprisingly good in melee for skirmishers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pcaravel

In my opinion, slingers are one of the most useful units in EB, especially Hellenes Sphendonetai and Gauls Iaosatae. They have AP abilities, a lot of ammo and long range. They are far better than almosts any archer unit. They are one of the cheapest units too!

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I couldn't agree more. In terms of cost efficiency and performance these units really shine. I'm more familiar with the Sphendonetai than i am with the Iaosatae but their performance in battle justify their costs many times over. I guard these fellas during the course of battle like gold because they truly reign in havoc and death from above. All for bargain basement prices..:yes:

In case of skirmishers, it all depends on the situation. Skirmishers can be useful in their softening role if the enemy has lightly armoured infantry in the front, as you can both break formation (they will often charge you in a messy way) and do some killing. If the enemy has heavily armoured units, don't even bother and send your skirmishers to the flanks - they will be much more effective there. Skirmishers can be great supporters for your cavalry or light infantry, as you will gain an advantage over the enemy with similar unit types.

Western archers aren't really that great on the open field, but they can be useful during sieges (flaming arrows and attack bonus if firing from walls). However, their eastern counterparts are very good even on the open field and are great light infantry killers.

Slingers... They are simply great (IMO even overpowered - I reduced their numbers and increased their cost and upkeep), especially against medium infantry (sometimes heavies are too much for them).

I post my slinger on my left side so they can hit the enemies shieldless side and fire longer because they don't have to retreat when some enemy unit attacks my main line. I usually place them infront of my infantry supposed for flanking/flank protection/cavalry support (heavy peltasts or some gallic infantry)

looks like that:

h...heavy infantry (phalanx or if romans triplex acies)

l...supportive infantry (for flanking or to mix with cavalry units)

s...slingers

c...cavalry


sss hhhhhhhh
l l hhhhhhhh l l
cc cc

(something isn't right here the 2 cav units are supposed to be on the right of course)

so slingers can fire quite long because the enemy usually attacks your main line if you place them well. if some unit attacks the slingers they retreat while the light infantry fire their javelins (best is to set slingers on guard mode and retreat throught the light inf yourself). when the javelins are fired light infantry attacks supported by cavalry (that usually routs every unit within secs) and then you can move the slingers into position again to fire at enemies slingers or whatever is not engaged (btw I NEVER have my slingers on autofire I always pick their targets)